Part I] Lindsay and Harlow : Lac and Shellac 15 1 
Hills run from north-west to south-east and the valley is shut 
in to the south-east by the Simla Hills and to the north-west by the 
Kashmir Hills, and is therefore protected on all four sides. One 
would naturally expect to find special climatic conditions ruling in 
such a locality. The rainfall in Una Tahsil is certainly greater than at 
Hoshiarpur outside the valley, which must in general enjoy a some¬ 
what more favourable climate than is to be found in the more exposed 
portions of the district. It is at present only surmise that the Una 
Tahsil owes its lac to these peculiar conditions, but this seems to be 
the natural conclusion. 
The principal lac-growing species is Ber which exists, or has been 
sown specially for the purpose, round the village sites. Small quan¬ 
tities are also grown on Babul and Ficus spp. The cultivation is 
much the same as elsewhere, a few trees being always reserved for 
brood. There appears to be no difficulty about brood-lac and the 
industry seems to be thriving. The actual work is done by the land- 
owners. They sell their lac to Baiparis who bring it to Hoshiarpur 
for sale, chiefly to agents of Mirzapur and Imamganj firms who come 
to make their purchases each season. 
Good crops are :— 
Maunds. 
Baisakhi 
... ... ... 15,000 
Katki 
... 10,000 
The basis of sale is the local lac maund of 54 seers 2 chattaks. 
The odd two chattaks are the perquisite of the buyer’s agent. The 
Arhatiya recovers two pice per rupee from the seller and 1 per cent, 
from the buyer. 
The principal Arhatiyas are :— 
L. Thakur Dass 
L. Mukunda Mali 
L. Gujar Mai Mikki Ram 
Birja Mai Teghu Mai 
Gurdita Mai Md. Baksh 
Rup Ram Balik Ram 
Sri Kishan Dass Bansi Lai. 
The only known contractor is Ghulami Kasi, District Board 
Contractor. 
There is no manufacture ,of shellac in Hoshiarpur. Local wood 
and metal workers import an insignificant quantity from Mirzapur. 
UsiJj 
